School Field Experiences
Bowers School Farm and Johnson Nature Center, both owned and operated by Bloomfield Hills Schools, extend learning beyond the classroom. Their diverse habitats support a variety of native plants and wildlife, livestock, and crops. From stepping into the historical buildings and back in time, to digging deep into the soil and imagining a more sustainable future, these unique sites offer dynamic educational experiences to serve the needs of today’s students.
School Programs
Our Goals, Commitment, & Approach | Benefits of Outdoor Learning | Meet the Team (coming soon…)
Give your classroom a unique learning experience on the farm in the outdoors and surrounded by agriculture. Programs at the farm, on-site, provide the best way to immerse your students in agriculture with hands-on learning. Online registration is available for classrooms of all sizes. Off-site availability is limited and determined on a need basis.
School Programs at the Farm
Available Programs based on the season:
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Farm Discovery Days
Grades Pre-K and Up
When: October, April - June
Join us for an exciting field experience where learning and fun go hand in hand! Students will have the chance to explore a working farm and discover the wonders of agriculture. Through engaging activities and guided tours, they'll learn how vegetables grow, see farm machinery in action, and understand the importance of taking care of our environment. Hands-on experiences like pony grooming, egg collecting, and observing farm life up close will make for an unforgettable educational adventure. This trip is designed to spark curiosity, foster a love for nature, and provide meaningful insights into where our food comes from.
October programs will allow add-ons of picking pumpkins and butter making.
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A Sheep’s Story
Grades K-5
When: February - March
Explore the fascinating world of sheep and wool in this hands-on program! Learn about the unique physical traits of sheep, the history of sheep farming, and how wool has been used throughout time. Discover how wool compares to other fibers and why it's so unique. Students will get creative with a fun, hands-on wool project to experience its versatility firsthand. This program meets K-5 ELA, Science, & Social Studies Standards.
View standards HERE
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Farm Detectives (Grades Pre-K to 2nd)
Explore the joys and mysteries of life on the farm through the seasons! Students are invited to become detectives on the farm to help us solve BIG questions. What do the animals on the farm need to be healthy? And how can we, as farmers, help care for the animals?
This is a 3 season program, groups/classes must register for three dates total throughout the school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring)
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Vermicomposting- Worm Farming Fun (Any Age/Grade)
Bowers Worm Farming Fun is a program designed for teachers, young learners, and first-time vermicomposters! We deliver toolkits, educational materials, experiments, and fun activities. We provide you with easy-to-follow instructions and personalized help from Bowers staff throughout the process. These small, user-friendly totes will come with Red Wigglers ready to help compost your kitchen scraps and the first bit of food scraps, properly cut up to help get you started.
This program is designed to help you learn the basics of vermicomposting and our goal is to make it enjoyable and educational for students and teachers alike. Worm bins will be returned to Bowers Farm, but we hope that you will keep the Red Wigglers and graduate to a slightly larger worm bin that can accommodate more food scraps.
Caring for Red Wigglers is easy once you learn the basics, so we have options to help provide you with all of the information that you need.
$45 per kit (3 month rental)
Program Fees
$168 fee per program slot for a maximum of 14 students. Register for multiple slots for larger groups.
A $80 non-refundable deposit per program slot is required to hold the date.
Programs are 1.5 hours.
One teacher is required and free. Teachers and support staff needed for student success are free.
At the discretion of the teacher, a maximum of 14 adult chaperones per group may attend, not to exceed 1:1 ratio with students, at a fee of $14/person pre-paid during registration.
Additional adults and/or siblings may not attend due to space constraints and program design. Infants may be brought but are asked to be in a carrier on an adult so that the adult hands are free to assist their child with activities. No strollers allowed.
Additional fees apply to add-ons including: pumpkins (October), cider and donuts (October), or butter making (year-round).
If you have any questions or a group of 14 students or less and need a different dates, please email Megan to inquire.
In the following registration link, the “Event Space Available” numbers listed are the number of group slots available. Each group slot allows for up to 14 students.
Off-Site Programs
Off-site outreach programs attempt to bring the farm to you, though the full experience can only happen on the farm. There is limited availability and it does not replace the field experience programs at the farm, encouraging you to come to the farm for your experience if possible.
Off-site programs are approximately 1 hour and can be held indoors or outdoors. Students must dress for the weather if held outdoors.
Public libraries can take advantage of special pricing on our outreach programs designed to enhance community outreach. Contact us to learn more how we can tailor our services to meet your library's specific needs.
The following is representative of the cost of Off-site programs:
Farm Talks: $150 plus mileage*
30 minutes
1-50 people
Farm Presentation: $200 plus mileage*
45-60 minutes
50-100 people
Ag-venture Program: $250 plus materials and mileage*
approximately1 hour
assembly style for 100+ people
*Off-site outreach programs outside of our site’s 20-mile radius will be an additional $15 for each additional 10 miles.
Programs Available:
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Time: 30 minute talks
Accommodates: 0-50 people
Fee: $150
Animal Focused: Immerse your group in an unforgettable educational experience with our farm animal talks and presentations! Bring the farm directly to your school, library, or senior living centers as learners interact with various farm animals. Our sessions cover animal care, life cycles, and the importance of farming in our communities and provide hands-on opportunities to learn about agriculture, sustainability, and the unique roles these animals play in our everyday lives. Ideal for sparking curiosity and fostering a deeper appreciation for farm life.
Garden Focused: Discover the joys of gardening with our engaging talks and presentations tailored for schools, libraries, and senior living centers. Explore the fundamentals of gardening, from planning and planting to nurturing and harvesting. Our interactive sessions encourage hands-on learning with topics such as soil health, composting, seed starting, and more.
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Time: 45-60 minutes
Accommodates: 50-100 people
Fee $200
Animal Focused: Immerse your group in an unforgettable educational experience with our farm animal talks and presentations! Bring the farm directly to your school, library, or senior living centers as learners interact with various farm animals. Our sessions cover animal care, life cycles, and the importance of farming in our communities and provide hands-on opportunities to learn about agriculture, sustainability, and the unique roles these animals play in our everyday lives. Ideal for sparking curiosity and fostering a deeper appreciation for farm life.
Garden Focused: Discover the joys of gardening with our engaging talks and presentations tailored for schools, libraries, and senior living centers. Explore the fundamentals of gardening, from planning and planting to nurturing and harvesting. Our interactive sessions encourage hands-on learning with topics such as soil health, composting, seed starting, and more.
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Time: approximately 1 hour
Accommodates: assembly style, 100+ people
Fee: $250
Step into a mobile, hands-on agricultural experience featuring diverse farm animals and engaging demonstrations on sustainable farming practices. Ideal for schools and community events (libraries), our traveling farm offers an immersive experience that educates and entertains participants of all ages about the importance of agriculture and animal husbandry.
Farm Talk Topics
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Explore the vital importance of soil health in our ecosystem. Discover the secrets of maintaining fertile soil, learn about the role of microbes and nutrients, and understand sustainable practices that promote healthier crops and environments.
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Unlock the magic of turning kitchen scraps and yard waste into nutrient-rich soil amendments through composting. Learn practical techniques to reduce waste, enhance soil fertility, and contribute to a greener, more sustainable community, while exploring various types of composting methods suited to different needs and environments
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Discover the art and science of growing microgreens. Learn how to cultivate these nutrient-packed greens indoors, from seed to harvest.
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Embark on a journey into the world of seed starting. Learn essential techniques for successful germination, transplanting, and nurturing young plants, perfect for cultivating a thriving garden or indoor green space.
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Explore the practice of succession planting with salad green seeds. Discover how to effectively time and rotate crops in an indoor planter to ensure a continuous harvest of fresh, nutritious greens year-round.
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Delve into the fascinating world of vermicomposting. Explore how this natural process harnesses the power of worms to transform organic waste into nutrient-rich compost, enriching soil health and fostering sustainable gardening practices
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Animal availability is based on the animals needs and care during that time.
Turkeys, Rabbits, Chickens, Goats (seasonally based), chicks (May/Early June only), Sheep.
BHS Toolkit
What you need to know….
Developmental Kindergarten
Our BHS Developmental Kindergarten classes alternate visits between Bowers School Farm & Johnson Nature Center to integrate agricultural experiences and nature-based learning into the curriculum, sparking discovery and joy for exploration and learning in the outdoors. These experiences will provide a strong foundation for future learning.